Shoe-lace clamp.



J. 0. & A. M. FOSTER.

SHOE LACE CLAMP. APPLIOATIONYPILBD 11211.0. 1908.

947,898. Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

.WJTNESSES: iNVE/VTORS,

126 C /0$Tcr, I 1 By add/e /V/; 's/79: 17" W 4 Attorney Si,

T ll

OF SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA.

SHOE-LACE CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. April 6, 1908. Serial No. 425,522.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JENNIE C. Fosrnn and ADDIE MAY Fosrnn, citizens of the United States, residing at Santa Barbara, in the county of Santa Barbara, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Lace Clamps; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention has reference to improvements in shoe-lace clamps, and it aims primarily, to provide an exceedingly simple, inexpensive and efficient device of that nature which, when in place, will firmly engage the bow-knot into which the ends of the lace are tied.

To this end, the invention resides in the provision of a clamp comprising a central base member and a pair of caps hinged thereto at diametrically opposite points, the base member having formed therein a circular aperture which is bridged by a horizontal strap provided at its upper and lower edges with laterally-projecting teeth which bite into the knot held thereagainst by the caps.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals in the several views.

Of the said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved clamp opened out. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the clamp, with the caps folded one upon the other. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the clamp is shown as consisting of a flat base member 5, and a pair of oonvexoconcave caps 6 and 7, each of which is provided with a neck portion 8 hinged to the adjacent end of the base plate as indicated by the numeral 9.

The base plate has formed therein, a central circular aperturelO which is bridged by a horizontal strap 11, which forms an integral part of said plate and is arranged diametrically with respect to said aperture. The serrated longitudinal edges 12 of said strap are bent upwardly at right angles to the body portion thereof.

Each of the caps above referred to, is approximately circular in shape, and said caps are so arranged with respect to the aperture 10, that, when folded over upon the base plate as hereinafter described, their centers will aline with the center of said aperture, the neck which connects the upper cap 6 with thebase plate having for this reason, a greater length than the connecting neck between the latter and the lower cap 7 The lower cap 7 has a diameter somewhat in excess of that of the cap 6.

In the application of the device, the ends.

of the shoe-lace are passed through the aperture 10 in the base plate on opposite sides of the bridge strap 11, after which said ends are tied in a b0wknot in the ordinary manner, the tension of the ends of the lace causing the teeth formed upon said strap to bite into the knot. The upper cap 6 is then folded over upon the knot, causing the inner ends of the wings of the knot to be likewise engaged by the strap teeth. The lower cap 7 is then folded over upon the first-mentioned cap over which it fits snugly by reason of its convexo-concave formation, thus holding the two caps together, the peripheral edge of the cap 7 being located beyond that of the cap 6. It will thus be apparent that when the clamp is engaged with the knotted ends of a shoe-lace, as above described, the ends will be prevented from becoming loosened and the knot, in consequence, untied.

The various members of the clamp are preferably formed of thin sheet steel, the convex face of the cap 7 providing a space upon which may be engraved the initial or,

monogram of the wearer.

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe lace clamp comprising a base member provided with a central aperture bridged by a diametrically-arranged strap, said strap having its longitudinal edges bent upwardly and serrated, and a cap hinged to said base member for movement into and out of position to cover said aperture and strap.

2. A shoe-lace clamp comprising a base member provided with a central aperture bridged by a serrated member; and a pair of caps hinged to the base member at diametrically opposite points, one of said caps being foldable over said aperture and strap, and the other cap foldable over the first mentioned cap.

3. A shoe-lace clamp, comprising a base member provided with a central aperture Patented Feb. 1, 1910..

bridged by a serrated member, and a pair of In testimony whereof, we afiix our signaclrcular convexo-concave caps hlnged to the tures, 1n presence of two Witnesses. base member at dlametrlcally opposlte JENNIE C. FOSTER. polnts one of said caps bem foldablc over T 5 said aperture and strap, and the other cap ADDIE MAX FOSTER foldable over the first mentioned cap, the Vitnesses: last mentioned cap having a greater diam- L. A. HAGER,

eter than the first mentioned cap. T. H. LINGHAM. 

